History

Whether you say shrimp or prawn might have a lot to do with where you live, but there actually is a difference. Shrimp have two pairs of claws while prawns have three. Canadians can draw on populations of both on either coast. The most abundant, though, is the northern shrimp caught in the cold waters of the Atlantic. For the largest, look to B.C.'s spring harvest of spot prawns.

Best sustainable option

Northern prawn from Atlantic Canada and prawn from British Columbia.

In Season

janfebmaraprmayjunjulaugsepoctnovdec

Landed

131,801 tonnes

brought onshore in Canada in 2014.

Did you know?

Most species of shrimp are hermaphrodite: they start out as male until they reached sexual maturity before transitioning to female. Some species are known to bypass the male stage of their lifecycle altogether.

Taste/Texture

Crunchy, firm, crisp texture

What to look for

Choose fresh shrimp that is almost translucent and that is firm to the touch. Avoid any that is soft or mushy, or that has black spots. Uncooked shrimp with a pink colouring should be avoided as it indicates the shrimp is not fresh.

Meet Chef Spencer Watts

Chef Spencer Watts says cooking is the great love of his life. His father and grandfather were both cod fishermen, so a love of fishing and being on the water runs in his blood. Growing up on the lower mainland of British Columbia, Spencer was inspired by the vast array of fresh local ingredients available.

Spencer is a graduate of the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts. He quickly progressed through the ranks at The Westin Grand and C restaurant, while training with some of the best local talent in the culinary scene. In 2007 he opened his very own restaurant, ‘Spence on the Coast,’ in Sechelt. Later he started his own local cable cooking show called “Coast Cooking with Spence.”

Spencer is presently enjoying life in Vancouver while working on his cookbook and promoting sustainable seafood.

History

Whether you say shrimp or prawn might have a lot to do with where you live, but there actually is a difference. Shrimp have two pairs of claws while prawns have three. Canadians can draw on populations of both on either coast. The most abundant, though, is the northern shrimp caught in the cold waters of the Atlantic. For the largest, look to B.C.'s spring harvest of spot prawns.

Best sustainable option

Northern prawn from Atlantic Canada and prawn from British Columbia.

In Season

janfebmaraprmayjunjulaugsepoctnovdec

Landed

131,801 tonnes

brought onshore in Canada in 2014.

Did you know?

Most species of shrimp are hermaphrodite: they start out as male until they reached sexual maturity before transitioning to female. Some species are known to bypass the male stage of their lifecycle altogether.

Taste/Texture

Crunchy, firm, crisp texture

What to look for

Choose fresh shrimp that is almost translucent and that is firm to the touch. Avoid any that is soft or mushy, or that has black spots. Uncooked shrimp with a pink colouring should be avoided as it indicates the shrimp is not fresh.